LAWMAKERS TAKE UP PRISON STERILIZATION

Lawmakers take up sterilization

Top state lawmakers pledged last week to pursue legislation to prevent sterilization abuses in prisons.

Sen. Loni Hancock, chairwoman of the Public Safety Committee, made the announcement during a packed hearing at the state Capitol. It was called in response to an investigation by The Center for Investigative Reporting that found nearly 150 women were sterilized from 2006 to 2010 without required state approvals.

Former inmates told CIR that prison medical staff had coerced the women, targeting those deemed likely to return to prison.

Hancock, D-Oakland, said she hoped a new law would “clarify” state policy on prison sterilizations, which are allowed only in cases of medical necessity and with high-level state approval. Sen. Joel Anderson, R-San Diego, vice chairman of the committee, said such legislation also would send a clear signal that the state’s history of forced sterilizations from the early 1900s through the 1970s should never be repeated.

“When we first heard of this issue, we acted quickly and strongly because we all understand that this is about fairness and dignity. This is at the core of basic dignity and human rights,” Anderson said.

Neither legislator provided details of what the legislation might include or when it would be introduced.

Corrections officials who testified at the hearing said they already are working closely with prison advocates and with federal receiver Clark Kelso’s office to ensure that sterilization won’t occur again without authorization.

Kelso assured legislators that his office took swift action to stop the unauthorized sterilizations in 2010, after it realized they were occurring.